The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing for the 2026 World Cup playoffs

The Democratic Republic of Congo now knows its next opponents, including the teams it will face in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 World Cup. These crucial matches will determine whether the nation can participate in this international football event.

Already qualified directly for the final thanks to their seeded status, the Leopards are just one step away from making history.

The DRC will face Bolivia, New Caledonia, possibly Iraq, and two teams from the CONCACAF zone (to be determined) in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 World Cup in March 2026. The tournament will be held in Mexico and will be the DRC's last chance to qualify for the World Cup.

Potential opponents of the DRC:

• Bolivia
• New Caledonia
• Iraq

Two CONCACAF teams (including Panama, Costa Rica, Haiti, and Suriname, which are potential candidates)

Playoff tournament format:

Semifinals:

Unseeded teams, such as Iraq and Suriname, will face each other in two single-elimination matches.

Final:

The two winners of the semifinals will then face two seeded teams, such as the DRC, Bolivia, and New Caledonia.

Qualification:

The winner of each final match will secure their place at the World Cup